"Pole Kubica and Renault have reached an agreement and are only awaiting confirmation to make the deal official from the driver's current Formula One team BMW Sauber, the report said.
Kubica, 24 finished fourth in the drivers' world championship last year, securing his only grand prix win in Canada.
Renault, who need a replacement for Ferrari-bound Spaniard Alonso, were unavailable for comment."

Waiting the new poll from the newbs "Is this a step back for foward for Kubica?" Film at 11.

I think Robert should be wary of manufacturer teams but Renault's recent statements give him some confidence that they will be around to sign his paycheque. I for one think he's glad to have a decent ride in a team that will be trying pretty damn hard to overcome perceptions.

To be honest, outside of say McLaren or Ferrari it's all a bit of a gamble as to who will be strong next year, you just never know, you never know when it's X team's time to shine. Brawn, Red Bull, who could have predicted these things?

I tend to agree with the above poster, I think he'll be podiuming a lot more at Renault than BMW.

And if it's good enough for his mate Alonso then it's good enough for him.

Great plans, it don't mean much, everyone thought BMW would challenge for the title this year and what did all this expectation amount to... a lemon of car and BMW quitting. You just don't know what the future holds, especially in F1, sometimes what seems like a wrong move turns out right and what seems right turns out wrong, that's the beauty of it;)

Ok, lets look at - pure hypothetical - positives for KUB in this move, as a fanboy, I must think positive ;) if we assume that is a fact, and it seems to be, so:

-He will be rather number 1 in this team, getting earlier some updates, getting the better startegy for race and so on.
-Renault had a hit, in the "tyre change"-ban, maybe they will have a hit with the refuel-ban. (thats pure "maybe")
-Renaults second drive this year - no comment, we can assume that Alonso knew earlier of his Ferrari-contract, and he doesn't pulled off the real pace of the car (I know, I know, thats a stupid one:))
-This years Renault car is in the "no-diffusor" group, so from the beginning it wasn't the best construction, next year should be different.
-Do you guys heard on last races on any updates in this year Renault car? I can't remember anything like that, maybe they work on the 2010 longer than we think (something like Ferrari, but without announce that)
-After the crash-gate, Renault had two ways, whetever to withdraw like bmw, or to fight to get back the face with good result, it seems they convinced Robert that they go the second way "for sure", especially after his comments that "secure future of the team" is the most important for him.
-If Robert would go for money, or race performance based on this season, he would go to Toyota for sure, they have more money, and better pace this season, I don't think he is stupid, and know more than we, plus he have "insider" information from Alonso who seems a good friend of him.

I know, those arguments are very far-fetched, it would be better, seat nr 2 in macca, williams, or even toyota IMO :-/

Ok, lets look at - pure hypothetical - positives for KUB in this move, as a fanboy, I must think positive ;) if we assume that is a fact, and it seems to be, so:

-He will be rather number 1 in this team, getting earlier some updates, getting the better startegy for race and so on.-Renault had a hit, in the "tyre change"-ban, maybe they will have a hit with the refuel-ban. (thats pure "maybe")-Renaults second drive this year - no comment, we can assume that Alonso knew earlier of his Ferrari-contract, and he doesn't pulled off the real pace of the car (I know, I know, thats a stupid one:))-This years Renault car is in the "no-diffusor" group, so from the beginning it wasn't the best construction, next year should be different.-Do you guys heard on last races on any updates in this year Renault car? I can't remember anything like that, maybe they work on the 2010 longer than we think (something like Ferrari, but without announce that)-After the crash-gate, Renault had two ways, whetever to withdraw like bmw, or to fight to get back the face with good result, it seems they convinced Robert that they go the second way "for sure", especially after his comments that "secure future of the team" is the most important for him.-If Robert would go for money, or race performance based on this season, he would go to Toyota for sure, they have more money, and better pace this season, I don't think he is stupid, and know more than we, plus he have "insider" information from Alonso who seems a good friend of him.

I know, those arguments are very far-fetched, it would be better, seat nr 2 in macca, williams, or even toyota IMO :-/

Agreed.

No real performance this season or lastNo FlavioNo SymmondsNo $$$$$$ or Sponsors

Kubica seems clever enough, surely he wouldn't sign a contract without some assurances about Renault's participation next year. Let's see how good he is at leading a championship winning team. I'm now more interested in seeing who they sign as a second driver.

Interestng idea as to who Kubica's team-mate could be: GP2 runner-up Vitaly Petrov. I know I've tipped him for Campos before, but Campos are said to be in league wth Telefonicia as title sponsor, and while the exact source of Petrov's backing is a little hazy, one of the more popular suggestions is that it's Russian telecommunications giant MegaFon (it's defaintely either a telecom company or oil and gas becaue that's where the money is in Russia). If this is true, I doubt MegaFon and Telefonicia would be too thrilled at the prospect of sponsoring the same team, even if they are at opposite ends of the continent.

The fact of the matter is that Renault need a title sponsor. Or at least a major sponsor. Total is speculated to be joining them, but somebody is going to need to fill in the void left by them as secondary sponsor or take the reins if Total disagree. Renault showed up in Japan with MegaFon logos on their nose cone; they were only small, but they were the first people to join the team after ING abandoned ship. They may just be getting their foot in the door, presenting Petrov as a fresh face and offering money to Renault. Pay drivers don't really have the stigma that they once did, and some of the best drivers have paid for their seat - I believe Schumacher bought his Jordan ride, and Petrov isn't exactly lacking in talent; of all the GP2 drivers who have been in the series for more than one season, none have gone from the back of the grid to the front quicker than Petrov, and he was beating Grosjean when Piquet was dropped. If the stars align this particular way, we could get a MegaFon Renault team in 2010. I'd like that.

I say this is interesting because if Petrov is parnered with Kubica, Renault will be the East European All-Stars. Kubica has laid the groundwork for Eastern Europe to be brought into the Formula One fraternity; aside from the Hungaroring, they've been very under-represented, but there are five East European drivers in the lower leagues - Petrov, Aleshin, Vasiliauskas, Papevic and one whose name I cannot recall right now - and Russian oil oligarchy Lukoil has their own driver development program. They're even working with Red Bull, joining forces with them in GP2 to back Aleshin and Wickens. So if Kubica laid the groundwork, Petrov could follow through, and Renault would have some serious weight to throw about. They need a title sponsor and their name is tainted. But with two East European drivers, they can draw on a huge section of the world that has gone untapped until now.

After all, what if the next Ayrton Senna was born behind the Iron Curtain?

-He will be rather number 1 in this team, getting earlier some updates, getting the better startegy for race and so on.

I believe two of the regulations for 2010 will be a fixed number of upgrades over the course of the season, and homologation of all upgrades. I believe this translates as meaning that both drivers must - at the very least - race with the same parts. But I've been wrong before ...

Renault get a driver perceived to be very good, and only the right car away from truly battling for the Championship. Kubica get a prime number 1 seat at a manufacturer team, which will either confirm him as that driver, or show him as 'found out'.

This confirm Renault will stay in F1 at least the next 2 - 3 seasons, and if Kubica is battling at the sharp end, then I am certain even longer.

I will expect Grosjean to be the second driver, racing on a French license (even though he really is Swiss) which will somewhat placate the French public (that is if the French public really give a hoot).

It could be complete bs, but Eddie Jordan on BBC was saying with his usual confidence that Kubica had such a strong bargaining position with Renault that he could designate the second driver. And, suprisingly, that he wanted to take Kovalainen with him, believing he was under too much pressure at McLaren. I'm sceptical - wasn't it too much pressure in Renault before that?!?

It could be complete bs, but Eddie Jordan on BBC was saying with his usual confidence that Kubica had such a strong bargaining position with Renault that he could designate the second driver. And, suprisingly, that he wanted to take Kovalainen with him, believing he was under too much pressure at McLaren. I'm sceptical - wasn't it too much pressure in Renault before that?!?

Yeah, I think it's pure BS. Kubica has always said he doesn't care who is the 2nd driver...

-After the crash-gate, Renault had two ways, whetever to withdraw like bmw, or to fight to get back the face with good result

I really think Renault had two ways and one of them was to withdraw and subsequently been publicly embarrassed by being thrown out of 2008 and possibly 2009 championships or to pledge to stay and get a" bad Renault! Naughty Renault!" punishment it was given. I think there was a behind the scenes deal being made that at one side ensured that Renault won't flee and at the other side ensured that the punishment would be severe enough not to have any real consequences but appear as steep and stern.

Renault can win, they have done it in the past. And they are racers. Toyota is too corporate IMO and most importantly, don't have a track record to speak off, they big allure is money and even that is in question since they don't have a budget yet.

Yes Seb foolishly apologised, I know. But still, it was basically the accident that Webbo gave to Kubi at Monza, in reverse.

I'm scratching my head here that you seem to imply that was Webber's fault . Webber left Kubica *plenty* of room and Kubica overcooked it diving up the inside to clatter into Webber's rear.

Kubica at Aus did not leave Vettel much room at all. Vettel was too hot into the corner and probably should have let Kubica go, but I called it a 50/50 at the time. Wasn't Vettel's penalty at the next race for driving the car around in an unsafe condition rather than for the accident itself?

I think it's a good move by Kubica given the open possibilites right now. Renault at the moment seem more committed than Toyota, since the rumour around is that they agreed with the FIA to commit themselves for a couple years in order not to get a big fine. The exit of Briatore, Symmonds and ING, while in theory a bad thing, could end up making them stronger - it's a psychological new start for them, the end of a rather poor era. Kubica is the best guy they could get to replace Fred, as he's so similar in terms of both personality and driving style. He's a leader.

I'm scratching my head here that you seem to imply that was Webber's fault . Webber left Kubica *plenty* of room and Kubica overcooked it diving up the inside to clatter into Webber's rear.

Kubica at Aus did not leave Vettel much room at all. Vettel was too hot into the corner and probably should have let Kubica go, but I called it a 50/50 at the time.

The Monza one I saw Webbo squeezing Kubi onto the grass and kerb then claiming the apex from the wide line. Kubi bounced over the kerb unable to slow down. Pretty identical to Kubi/Seb in Oz. Yes in each case the car on the inside was having a dive, but if you squeeze them onto the grass and kerb you know they're going to struggle to slow down. So if you then take the apex you should know what's going to happen next. With Mark it was on the first lap, 2nd chicane, cars all around, it was suicide to take that line.